Cricket fans hit for six for bad parking

A team of six parking inspectors - including four deployed specifically to Manuka Oval - blitzed the area, leaving 183 infringement notices on cars parked on grassland and other non-parking areas in Kingston, Manuka, Griffith, and Barton.

Cricket fans emerged from the ground late on Wednesday night to find the notices on their windscreens, prompting many to vent their anger, criticising a lack of parking and the government's ''pure revenue raising''.

The targeting of Manuka Oval also prompted a vigorous debate on canberratimes.com.au on Thursday, with many saying drivers had been warned not to illegally park and should not have been surprised they were booked. Inspectors handed out a total of $17,719 in fines. More than half that amount was from $83 fines given to 120 drivers who had stopped on verges, including footpaths and grass strips. Those who disobeyed no stopping signs felt the largest hit to their hip pocket, with 24 people each copping a $186 fine.

Infringement notices were also given to those who disobeyed parking signs, or stopped at an intersection, a loading zone, a taxi zone, a bus zone, or across a driveway.

A Justice and Community Safety Directorate spokeswoman said the parking inspector's role was to ensure ''safe and equitable parking at all times''.

''Uncontrolled traffic in suburban streets poses a significant risk to residents and pedestrians, particularly local children,'' the spokeswoman said.

''People who illegally park impede on the legitimate and lawful needs of other road users,'' she said.

The government relaxed timed parking around Manuka Oval on Wednesday, and provided free public bus services to the game.

Warnings that illegal parking would not be tolerated were also issued and the government warned that parking inspectors would be active in the area.